The schedule for Wisconsin Badgers outside linebacker leaves plenty of time for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks

Outside linebacker Izayah Green-May, who will be making his first start for the Badgers on Friday against South Florida, has made a concerted effort to add weight to his 6-foot-6 frame.(Photo: Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

MADISON – Izayah Green-May has been following a detailed game plan in his quest to earn a starting spot on Wisconsin’s defense.

Study the playbook.

Eat.

Hit the weights.

Eat.

Practice with tenacity.

Eat.

Stretch and recover.

Eat.

Wash, rise and repeat.

“I pound it down,” said the redshirt sophomore outside linebacker, set to make his first college start Friday at South Florida. “They tell me: ‘Go eat, man. Whatever you’ve got to do. Go down there and get down to business.’”

Green-May, who was paired with senior Zack Baun on the No. 1 defense throughout camp, carried about 200 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame as a senior at Bolingbrook (Illinois) High School. He was listed at 217 pounds in 2017, his redshirt season at UW, and reported to camp last month at 226 pounds. That was four pounds below his target goal of 230.

“I lost four pounds on the first day,” said Green-May, who is down to 221 this week.

Green-May played sparingly in six games last season as a redshirt freshman. He recorded one tackle, in a victory over Rutgers.

Baun and Noah Burks were paired with the No. 1 defense in the spring, with Green-May on the No. 2 unit. Green-May generally was more active than Burks, however, and the staff made the switch before camp.

“I think last year the desire was there,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “The body wasn’t quite there. By the end of the season, when you got to bowl prep, the light came on and physically he was getting to a place where it was matching where he was mentally.

“He carried that into the off-season. You saw it spring ball when he took a big step forward.

“Obviously, Izayah’s got great length, great burst. He can run. He’s really taken a big step forward physically…and mentally understanding what we do.

“And I think that has translated into confidence. He is playing fast.”

Green-May made his mark in the spring by getting into the backfield on passing plays and did the same during camp. At 6-6, he can disrupt passing lanes for opposing quarterbacks.

“Having a lengthy guy like that in the boundary helps out with those quick slant routes that people like to throw,” senior inside linebacker Chris Orr said. “He can get his hands up quickly and easily swat down balls.”

UW needs a second outside linebacker, whether it is Green-May or someone else, to help keep offenses from double-teaming Baun with impunity.

"Definitely,” Baun said. “There is a reason why he is in that No. 1 position.”

Baun, who broke into the starting lineup last season, has been tutoring Green-May.

“I told him all the things I was thinking last year, when I was making my first start,” he said. “I’ll continue to walk him through what to expect, the right steps to take.”

Perhaps the biggest question facing Green-May is whether he can help set the edge on running plays.

Although Green-May didn’t get much work last season, he could sense improvement during bowl prep and then again last spring. Getting more comfortable with the defensive calls was a start. Working on his body, still a challenge, was critical.

“I feel I had glimpses of my athleticism early on,” he said. “My body has changed. I am quicker now. I’m faster. I’m stronger. I’m still gaining weight. That is still an area I need to work on.”

Our subscribers make this coverage possible. Subscribe to the Journal Sentinel today at jsonline.com/deal.